Di Canio's former assistant Fabrizio Piccareta has been placed in temporary charge but is 12/1 to take the post on a permanent basis, while Mike Newell is 4/1, Dave Hockaday 7/1 and Paul Bodin 12/1 having attracted some backing.

Sky Bet Football Trader Chris Spicer said: "We initially went out without Di Canio our list of candidates, with Mike Newell and Dave Hockaday leading the betting, but were seeing little interest in the market.

"However, we then added Di Canio at 5/1 by request this afternoon and the Italian has attracted almost all of the interest ever since."